Suspension travel-limiting arrangement

ABSTRACT

An assembly that includes a mounted component that is suspended from a mounting component by a novel suspension-system in such a manner that relative movement between the mounted component and the mounting component is allowed only in certain directions and only within certain ranges. The novel suspension system comprises a travel-limiting link that is engaged to the mounted component at one connection point and also engaged to the mounting component at another connection point. The travel-limiting link is pivotally engaged to the mounted component at its connection point thereto and/or is pivotally engaged to the mounting component at its connection point thereto. The travel-limiting link comprises a first snubber that cooperates with a first bump-stop structure of the assembly to limit the rotation of the travel-limiting link relative to the mounted component and/or the mounting component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a novel suspension system thatincludes one or more linkages that connect a mounted component to amounting component in such a manner that the mounted component may movewithin predefined ranges of positions relative to the mountingcomponent.

DRAWINGS

[0002] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent upon perusal of the detailed description thereof and uponinspection of the drawings in which:

[0003]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a vehicle that includes anoperator cabin that is supported by a first embodiment of a novelsuspension-system according to the present invention from a framestructure of the vehicle.

[0004]FIG. 2 is a rear close-up view of the novel suspension-system ofthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0005]FIG. 3 is a view of an assembly according to the present inventionincluding a second embodiment of a novel suspension-system according tothe present invention that is a frame-suspension system of a vehicle.

[0006]FIG. 4 is sectional view through line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

[0007]FIG. 5 is a view of an assembly according to the present inventionincluding a third embodiment of a novel suspension-system according tothe present invention that is a frame-suspension system of a vehicle.

[0008]FIG. 6 is a sectional view through line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

[0009]FIG. 7 is a view of an assembly according to the present inventionincluding a fourth embodiment of a novel suspension-system according tothe present invention that is a frame-suspension system of a vehicle.

DETAILS OF INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is an assembly 12 that includes a mountedcomponent 10 that is supported from a mounting component 11 by a novelsuspension-system 13 that allows relative movement between the mountedcomponent 10 and the mounting component 11 only in certain directionsand only within certain ranges of relative positions. Embodiments of thepresent invention and components thereof are illustrated in FIGS. 1-7.Many different constructions of suspension systems that attach a mountedcomponent 10 to a mounting component 11 in such a manner to allow forrelative movement between them in only certain directions and onlywithin certain ranges are well-known to and/or easily imaginable by aperson of ordinary skill in the art. The general manner of constructionof a novel suspension-system 13 according to the present invention maybe in accordance with any of the aforementioned designs of suspensionsystems that are well-known to and/or easily imaginable by one ofordinary skill in the art.

[0011] A novel suspension-system 13 of an assembly 12 according to thepresent invention includes a travel-limiting link 14 that is engaged tothe mounted component 10 at a connection point 15 and that is alsoengaged to the mounting component 11 at a connection point 15. Thetravel-limiting link 14 has a spanning portion 18 that extends betweenthe connection point 15 at which it is engaged to the mounting component10 and the connection point 15 at which it is engaged to the mountingcomponent 11. The travel-limiting link 14 is pivotally engaged to atleast one of the mounted component 10 and the mounting component 11 atits connection point 15 thereto. In some embodiments of the presentinvention, such as the one shown in FIG. 7, the travel-limiting link 14may be pivotally connected to only one of the mounting component 11 andthe mounted component 10 at its connection point 15 thereto. In suchembodiments of the invention the travel-limiting link 14 may be engagedto whichever of the mounting component 11 and the mounted component 10it is not pivotally engaged to in any of innumerable different ways.Alternatively, the travel-limiting link 14 may be pivotally engaged tothe mounting component 11 at its connection point 15 thereto and alsopivotally engaged to the mounted component 10 at its connection point 15thereto, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. The pivotal connection(s) 19between the travel-limiting link 14 and the mounting component I1 and/ormounted component 10 constitute a portion of all of the moveableconnections between the components of the novel suspension-system 13 andthe mounting component 11 and the mounted component 10 that allow forconstrained relative movement of the mounting component 11 relative tothe mounted component 10.

[0012] The travel-limiting link 14 of a novel suspension-system 13according to the present invention comprises a first snubber 21 that isdisposed adjacent a pivotal connection 19 of the travel-limiting link 14to either the mounting component 11 or the mounted component 10. Thefirst snubber 21 is disposed upon a side of the pivotal connection 19that it is disposed adjacent, which is opposite the spanning portion 18of the travel-limiting link 14. An assembly 12 according to the presentinvention also comprises a first bump-stop structure 16 that is engagedto and/or is part of either said mounting component 11 or said mountedcomponent 10. The first bump-stop structure 16 is disposed in such aposition that, when relative rotation occurs between the travel-limitinglink 14 and whichever of the mounted component 10 and the mountingcomponent 11 the travel-limiting link 14 is connected to through thepivotal connection 19 that is adjacent the first snubber 21, the firstbump-stop structure 16 is disposed within the path of travel of thefirst snubber 21. Thus, the range of angular positions of thetravel-limiting link 14 relative to whichever of the mounting component11 and the mounted component 10 it is pivotally connected to at thepivotal connection 19 adjacent the first snubber 21 is limited because,as the travel-limiting link 14 rotates in such a direction that thefirst snubber 21 moves toward the first bump-stop structure 16, thefirst snubber 21 will eventually abut the first bump-stop structure 16.As is illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, the relative positions of the firstsnubber 21 and the first bump-stop structure 16 may be such that thecontact one another as a result of and limit travel of the mountedcomponent 10 away from the mounting component 11. Such travel of themounted component 10 away from the mounting component 11 is generallyreferred to as rebound. Thus, a first snubber 21 and a first bump-stopstructure 16 that engage each other as a result of the mounted component10 moving away from the mounting component 11 establish a rebound limitwhich is a relative position between the mounted component 10 and themounting component 11 at which the first snubber 21 is in contact withthe first bump-stop structure 16 and further rebound, or travel of themounted component 10 away from the mounting component 11 is prevented.Alternatively, the relative positions of the first snubber 21 and thefirst bump-stop structure 16 may be such that they contact one anotheras a result of and limit travel of the mounted component 10 toward themounting component 11. Such travel of the mounted component 10 towardthe mounting component 11 is generally referred to as jounce. Thus, afirst snubber 21 and a first bump-stop structure 16 that engage eachother as a result of the mounted component 10 moving toward the mountingcomponent 11 establish a jounce limit which is a relative positionbetween the mounted component 10 and the mounting component 11 at whichthe first snubber 21 is in contact with the first bump-stop structure 16and further jounce, or travel of the mounted component 10 toward themounting component 11 is prevented.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as those shownin FIGS. 1-6, a travel-limiting link 14 includes a second snubber 22 andthe mounted component 10 or the mounting component 11 comprises a secondbump-stop structure 17 that cooperates with the second snubber 22 to aidthe first snubber 21 and the first bump-stop structure 16 in limitingthe relative motion between the mounted component 10 and the mountingcomponent 11. Generally embodiments of the present invention in whichthe travel-limiting link 14 comprises a second snubber 22 and secondbump-stop structure 17 are embodiments of the present invention in whichthe travel-limiting link 14 is pivotally connected to the mountedcomponent 10 at its connection point 15 there to and is pivotallyconnected to the mounting component 11 at its connection point 15thereto. In such embodiments of the present invention the second snubber22 is disposed adjacent to whichever of the travel-limiting link's 14connection points 15 the first snubber 21 is not disposed adjacent andthe second snubber 22 is disposed upon a side of the connection point 15adjacent which it is disposed opposite the spanning portion 18 of thetravel-limiting link 14. The second bump-stop structure 17 is disposedin such a position that, when relative rotation occurs between thetravel-limiting link 14 and whichever of the mounted component 10 andthe mounting component 11 is pivotally engaged thereto through thepivotal connection 19 adjacent the second snubber 22, the secondbump-stop structure 17 is disposed within the path of travel of thesecond snubber 22. The relative positions of the second snubber 22 andthe second bump-stop structure 17 may be such that, as the mountedcomponent 10 and the mounting component 11 move away from one anotherthe second snubber 22 moves toward the second bump-stop structure 17. Insuch embodiments of the present invention the second snubber 22 and thesecond bump-stop structure 17 cooperate with one another and, in somecases with other structures of the assembly 12, such as the firstsnubber 21 and the first bump-stop structure 16, to define the reboundlimit of the novel-suspension system 13. Alternatively, the relativepositions of the second snubber 22 and the second bump-stop structure 17may be such that, as the mounted component 10 and the mounting component11 move toward one another the second snubber 22 moves toward the secondbump-stop structure 17. In such embodiments of the present invention thesecond snubber 22 and the second bump-stop structure 17 cooperate withone another and, in some cases with other structures of the assembly 12,such as the first snubber 21 and the first bump-stop structure 16, todefine the jounce limit of the novel-suspension system 13. It is worthnoting that the distinctions that are made between a first snubber 21and a second snubber 22 and the distinctions that are made between thefirst bump-stop structure 16 and the second bump-stop structure 17within the disclosure and the drawings are made primarily forconvenience and that in most ways the first snubber 21 and the secondsnubber 22 are interchangeable as are the first bump-stop structure 16and the second bump-stop structure 17.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention the disposition ofthe first snubber 21 relative to the first bump-stop structure 16 andthe disposition of the second snubber 22 relative to the secondbump-stop structure 17 is such that the first snubber 21, the firstbump-stop structure 16, the second snubber 22, and the second bump-stopstructure 17 share the load of establishing a jounce limit or a reboundlimit of the mounted component 10 relative to a mounting component 11.In such embodiments of the present invention, the load imposed upon eachof the first snubber 21, the first bump-stop structure 16, the secondsnubber 22, and the second bump-stop structure 17, when the mountedcomponent 10 and the mounting component 11 travel to whichever of thejounce limit and the rebound limit they define, is relatively lowbecause the first snubber 21 and first bump-stop structure 16 share thatload with the second snubber 22 and the second bump-stop structure 17.In order to effect such a functionality of the first snubber 21, thefirst bump-stop structure 16, the second snubber 22, and the secondbump-stop structure 17, the relative positions of each must be suchthat, as the mounted component 10 and the mounting component 11 moverelative to one another, the point at which the first snubber 21contacts the first bump-stop structure 16 is coincident with the pointat which the second snubber 22 contacts the second bump-stop structure17. In embodiments of the present invention in which the first snubber21, the first bump-stop structure 16, the second snubber 22, and thesecond bump-stop structure 17 cooperate to define the jounce limit ofthe novel suspension-system 13, as the mounted component 10 moves towardthe mounting component 11 to the jounce limit, the first snubber 21 andthe second snubber 22 simultaneously contact the first bump-stopstructure 16 and the second bump-stop structure 17 respectively. Inembodiments of the present invention in which the first snubber 21, thefirst bump-stop structure 16, the second snubber 22, and the secondbump-stop structure 17 cooperate to define the rebound limit of thenovel suspension-system 13, as the mounted component 10 moves away fromthe mounting component 11 to the rebound limit, the first snubber 21 andthe second snubber 22 simultaneously contact the first bump-stopstructure 16 and the second bump-stop structure 17 respectively.

[0015] Some embodiments of a novel-suspension system 12 according to thepresent invention include one or more springs 30 that are constructedand engaged to both the mounted component 10 and the mounting component11 in such a manner that they provide significant resistance to jounce,but limited resistance to rebound. Such a functionality of springs 30 ofa novel suspension-system 13 may result from the springs 30 havingrelatively little stiffness and/or strength in tension. For instance,many embodiments of the novel suspension-system 13 of the presentinvention, such as those shown in FIGS. 1-3, will includeflexible-chamber air springs 31 such as are commonly used in thesuspension systems of heavy-duty truck vehicles and which havenegligible stiffness and strength in tension. Some embodiments of novelsuspension-systems 12 according to the present invention include springs30 that have considerable stiffness and strength in tension, but haveengagements to the mounted component 10 and or mounting component 11that are such that, in jounce the springs 30 can apply resistive forcesto the mounted component 10 and/or the mounting component, but inrebound the springs 11 cannot apply resistive forces to the mountedcomponent 10 and/or the mounting component 11. For instance, as is shownin FIG. 7, a spring 30 may be engaged to a mounted component 10 or amounted component through abutment in only one direction. In such aconstruction, the spring 30 can apply resistive forces in the directionof abutment between the spring 30 and the mounted component 10 or themounting component 11, but not in the opposite direction. In embodimentsof novel suspension-systems 12 that include springs 30 that areconstructed and/or engaged to the mounted component 10 and the mountingcomponent 11 in such a manner that they provide relatively littleresistance to rebound a first snubber 21 and a first bump-stop structure16 and/or a second snubber 22 and second bump-stop structure 17 thatfunction to define a rebound limit advantageously provide the resistanceto rebound that the springs 30 do not.

[0016] As was mentioned above, the construction and engagement to themounted component 10 and the mounting component 11 of those componentsof a novel suspension-system 13 other than the travel-limiting link 14which includes the first snubber 21 may be of any of a number ofdifferent designs that are well-known to and/or easily imaginable by aperson of ordinary skill in the art. In many embodiments of the presentinvention, such as those shown in FIGS. 1-7, the novel suspension-system13 connects the mounted component 10 to the mounting component 11 insuch a manner that they are pivotally moveable relative to one anotherabout a novel suspension-system primary pivot-axis 23. Many suchembodiments of the present invention, such as those shown in FIGS. 1-7,also include springs 30 that are engaged between the mounted component10 and the mounting component 11 in such a manner to resist relativerotation therebetween about the novel suspension-system primarypivot-axis 23. There are many different constructions of suspensionsystem components that are well-known to and/or easily imaginable by aperson of ordinary skill in the art that would effect such a pivotalengagement of the mounted component 10 to the mounting component 11 at anovel suspension-system primary pivot-axis 23. In some embodiments ofthe present invention, such as those shown in FIGS. 3-7, the mountedcomponent 10 is engaged to the mounting component 11 through hinge pinsor bolts that are co-axial with the novel suspension-system primarypivot-axis 23. In other embodiments of the present invention, such asthose shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mounted component 10 is connected tothe mounting component 11 through a pair of relatively flexibleconnections 32 that are spaced from one another and that cooperate toallow relative pivoting of the mounted component 10 and the mountingcomponent 11 about an axis which extends through them while preventingsubstantial relative movement of the mounted component 10 and themounting component 11 in other directions. Thus, in such embodiments ofthe present invention a novel suspension-system primary pivot-axis 23about which relative pivoting of the mounted component 10 and themounting component 11 is allowed is defined through the pair ofrelatively flexible connections 32 of the mounted component 10 to themounting component 11. Constructions of suspension-systems 12 thatpivotally engage a mounted component 10 to a mounting component 11 abouta suspension-system primary pivot-axis through a spaced-apart pair ofrelatively flexible connections that define a suspension-system primarypivot-axis are commonly utilized in the suspension of an operator cabinof a heavy-duty truck vehicle from the frame structure thereof. In suchapplications the spaced-apart pair of relatively flexible connections ofthe mounted component 10 (the operator cabin) to the mounting component11 (the frame structure) are generally disposed upon opposite lateralsides of the heavy-duty truck vehicle adjacent a forward portion of theoperator cabin and thus define the suspension-system primary pivot-axisin horizontally and transverse to the longitudinal axis of theheavy-duty truck vehicle. In many such applications the rear portion ofthe operator cabin is supported by springs that are disposed between thelower rear portion of the operator cabin and the frame structure.

[0017] In some embodiments of novel suspension-systems 12 according tothe present invention that pivotally engage the mounted component 10 tothe mounting component 11 about a novel suspension-system primarypivot-axis 23 the travel-limiting link 14 of the novel suspension-system13 is engaged to the mounted component 10 and the mounting component 11in such a manner to prevent substantially all relative movement betweenthe mounted component 10 and the mounting component 11 in directionsparallel to the novel suspension-system primary pivot-axis 23. Suchembodiments of the present invention are illustrated in FIG. 1-6. Inthese embodiments of a novel suspension-system 13 according to thepresent invention the travel-limiting link 14 is engaged to the mountedcomponent 10 and the mounting component 11 in such a position that thereis less than a 30 degree angle between the novel suspension-systemprimary pivot-axis 23 and a connection point axis 24 that extendsthrough the connection points 15 between the travel-limiting link 14 andthe mounted component 10 and mounting component 11. Some suchembodiments of a novel suspension-system 13 according to the presentinvention are of the above-described type in which the travel-limitinglink 14 is pivotally engaged to both the mounted component 10 and themounting component 11. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readilyunderstand that, in such embodiments of the present invention, themounted component 10 is constricted to pivotal movement about the novelsuspension-system primary pivot-axis 23 and that during such movementthe travel-limiting link 14 will pivot about axes that extendperpendicular to the novel suspension-system primary pivot-axis 23 andthrough its pivotal connections 19 to the mounted component 10 and themounting component 11. Those of ordinary skill in the art will furtherreadily understand that, in such embodiments of the present invention,that the first snubber 21 cooperates with the first bump-stop structure16 and in some cases the second snubber 22 cooperates with the secondbump-stop structure 17 to limit the range within which thetravel-limiting link 14 may rotate about its pivotal connections 19 and,thus, to limit the range within which the mounted component 10 mayrotate about the novel suspension-system primary pivot-axis 23 relativeto the mounting component 11.

[0018] The novel suspension-system 13 according to the present inventionmay be utilized in any of a number of different types of assemblies 12to support any of a number of different types of mounted components 10from any of a number of different types of mounting components 11. Insome embodiments of the present invention a novel suspension-system 13according to the present invention is utilized in an assembly 12 that isa vehicle 25. Such a vehicle 25 includes one or more rigid framestructures 26 to which a majority of other components of the vehicle 25are engaged directly or indirectly and from which those componentsderive support directly or indirectly. A vehicle 25 according to thepresent invention would also include one or more body structures 28 thatare adapted to for residence thereupon or within of occupants and/orcargo of the vehicle 25. The one or more body structures 28 of such avehicle 25 is/are mounted to the one or more frame structures 26thereof. A vehicle 25 according to the present invention furthercomprises a frame-suspension system 27 that is constructed and engagedto the one or more frame structures 26 of the vehicle 25 in such amanner to support them above the ground. The frame-suspension system 27of a vehicle 25 according to the present invention is furtherconstructed in such a manner to provide the vehicle 25 with a relativelylow resistance to movement along the ground. The general construction ofa frame-suspension system 27 of a vehicle 25 according to the presentinvention may be of any of a number of designs of frame-suspensionsystems 27 of vehicles 25 that are well-known to and/or easilyimaginable by one of ordinary skill in the art. The frame-suspensionsystem 27 of a vehicle 25 according to the present invention may or maynot be one of the suspension systems of the vehicle 25 that areconsidered to be novel suspension-systems 13 according to,the presentinvention as a result of being constructed in accordance with theteachings of this disclosure. In embodiments of the present invention inwhich a frame-suspension system 27 of a vehicle 25 is constructed inaccordance with the teachings of this disclosure and is, by virtuethereof, considered to be a novel suspension-system 13 according to thepresent invention, the frame structure 26 of the vehicle 25 is themounted component 10 which the frame-suspension system 27, which is anovel suspension-system 13, supports from the mounting component 11which is generally an axle or stub axle or supported by an axle or stubaxle of the frame-suspension system 27. In addition to or instead ofhaving a frame-suspension system 27 that is a novel suspension-system 13according to the present invention, a vehicle 25 according to thepresent invention may have one or more novel suspension-systems thatsupport any of a number of different types of mounted components 10 ofthe vehicle 25 from any of a number of different types of mountingcomponents 11 of the vehicle 25.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as those shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle 25 according thereto comprises a bodystructure 28 that is an operator cabin 29 and that is further a mountedcomponent 10 which is supported by a novel suspension-system 13according to the present invention from a mounting component 11 that isa frame structure 26 of the vehicle 25. In some such embodiments of thepresent invention a forward lower portion of the operator cabin 28 ispivotally engaged to the frame structure 26 about a novelsuspension-system primary pivot-axis that extends transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle 25. In some such embodiments of thepresent invention the travel-limiting link 14 of the novelsuspension-system 13 is engaged at one connection point 15 to the lowerrear portion of the operator cabin 29 and at the other connection pointto the frame structure 26 of the vehicle 25. In some such embodiments ofthe present invention travel-limiting link 14 is positioned such thatthere is less than a 30 degree angle between the novel suspension-systemprimary pivot-axis 23 and the connection-point axis 24 that extendsthrough the connection points 15 of the travel-limiting link 14 to theoperator cabin 29 and the frame structure 26. In some such embodimentsof the present invention the travel-limiting link 14 is pivotallyengaged to the operator cabin 29 at its connection point 15 thereto andis also pivotally engaged to the frame structure 26 at its connectionpoint 15 thereto. In some such embodiments of the present invention thenovel suspension-system 13 comprises flexible-chamber air springs 31that are engaged between the lower rear portion of the operator cabin 29and the frame structure 26 and that support the rear of the operatorcabin 29. In some embodiments of the present invention, such as thoseshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first bump-stop structure 16 is defined bythe rear lower portion of the operator cabin 29 or by the framestructure 26 of the vehicle 25. In some of those embodiments of thepresent invention, such as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, whichever ofthe rear lower portion of the operator cabin 29 and the frame structure26 does not define the first-bump stop structure 16 defines the secondbump-stop structure 17.

[0020] It will, of course, be understood that an assembly 12, a novelsuspension-system 13 thereof, and the mounted component 10 and mountingcomponent 11 thereof could be of any of a number of differentconstructions within the guidelines set forth above and that somefeatures of the invention could be employed without a corresponding useof other features.

We claim:
 1. An assembly, comprising: (a) a mounted component that ismounted to a mounting component through a novel suspension system insuch a manner that the mounted component may move within predefinedranges of positions relative to said mounting component; (b) whereinsaid novel suspension system comprises a travel-limiting link that isengaged directly or indirectly to said mounting component at aconnection point and is engaged directly or indirectly to said mountedcomponent at a second connection point; (c) wherein said travel-limitinglink comprises a spanning portion that extends between said connectionpoint and said second connection point; (d) wherein one of saidconnection points is a pivotal connection about which saidtravel-limiting link may pivot relative to whichever of said mountingcomponent and said mounted component it is connected to through saidpivotal connection; (e) wherein said travel-limiting linkage comprises afirst snubber that is disposed adjacent said pivotal connection and upona side of said pivotal connection opposite said spanning portion of saidtravel-limiting link; and (f) wherein either said mounting component orsaid mounted component comprises a first bump-stop structure that isdisposed in such a position that, when relative rotation occurs betweensaid travel-limiting link and whichever of said mounted component andsaid mounting component said travel-limiting link is pivotally engagedto through said pivotal connection adjacent said first snubber, saidsecond bump-stop structure is disposed within a path of travel of saidfirst snubber.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: (a) both of saidconnection points are pivotal connection about which saidtravel-limiting link may pivot relative to said mounting component andsaid mounted component.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein: (a) saidfirst bump-stop structure is disposed in such a position that when saidtravel-limiting link rotates about said pivotal connections as saidmounted component moves away from said mounting component said firstsnubber moves toward said first bump-stop structure and when saidtravel-limiting link rotates about said pivotal connections as saidmounted component moves toward said mounting component said firstsnubber moves away from said first bump-stop structure.
 4. The assemblyof claim 3, wherein: (a) said novel suspension system comprises one ormore springs that are constructed and engaged between said mountedcomponent and said mounting component in such a manner that they providesubstantial jounce resistance and limited rebound resistance.
 5. Theassembly of claim 4, wherein: (a) said novel suspension system comprisesone or more flexible-chamber air springs that are engaged between saidmounting component and said mounted component in such a manner that theyprovide substantial jounce resistance and limited rebound resistance. 6.The assembly of claim 5, wherein: (a) said mounted component ispivotally engaged to said mounting component about a suspension-systemprimary pivot-axis that is disposed at a distance from and at an angleof less than 30 degrees relative to a connection-point axis that extendsthrough said connection points at which said travel-limiting link isconnected to said mounted component and said mounting component.
 7. Theassembly of claim 6, wherein: (a) said suspension-system primarypivot-axis and said connection-point axis are both disposed at angles ofless than 30 degrees relative to horizontal.
 8. The assembly of claim 7,wherein: (a) said assembly is a vehicle; (b) said vehicle comprises oneor more rigid frame structures to which a majority of other componentsof said vehicle are directly or indirectly engaged and from which amajority of other components of said vehicle derive support directly orindirectly; (c) said vehicle comprises a frame-suspension system that isengaged to said one or more frame structures and that provides said oneor more frame structures with support above said ground; (d) saidframe-suspension system is constructed in such a manner to provide saidvehicle with a relatively low resistance to movement along said ground;and (e) said vehicle comprises one or more body structures that aremounted to and supported by said one or more frame structures of saidvehicle.
 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein: (a) one of said bodystructures of said vehicle is an operator cabin which is also saidmounted component; (b) one of said one or more frame structures of saidvehicle is said mounting component; and (c) said novel-suspension systemsupports said operator cabin from said frame structure in such a mannerthat said operator cabin can move vertically relative to said framestructure.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein: (a) said novelsuspension-system primary pivot-axis is disposed transverse to alongitudinal axis of said vehicle and at a forward portion of saidoperator cabin; and (b) said travel-limiting link is engaged at one ofits connection points to a lower rear portion of said operator cabin andat the other of its connection points to said frame structure.
 11. Theassembly of claim 10, wherein: (a) said first bump-stop structure iseither a downwardly facing portion of said rear lower portion of saidoperator cabin or an upwardly facing portion of said frame structure.12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein: (a) said travel-limiting linkcomprises a second snubber that is disposed adjacent whichever of saidpivotal connection said first snubber is not adjacent; (b) said secondsnubber is disposed upon a side of said pivotal connection point that itis adjacent opposite said spanning portion of said travel-limiting link;(c) said mounting component or said mounted component comprises a secondbump-stop structure that is disposed in such a position that when saidtravel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connection as saidmounted component moves away from said mounting component said secondsnubber moves toward said second bump-stop structure and when saidtravel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connection as saidmounted component moves toward said mounting component said secondsnubber moves away from said second bump-stop structure and; and (d)said first bump-stop structure and said second bump-stop structure arepositioned such that, when relative rotation occurs between saidtravel-limiting link and whichever of said mounted component and saidmounting component said travel-limiting link is pivotally engaged tothrough said pivotal connection adjacent said second snubber, saidsecond bump-stop structure is disposed within a path of travel of saidsecond snubber.
 13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein: (a) one or moreof said one or more flexible-chamber air springs are mounted betweensaid rear lower portion of said cab and said frame structure.
 14. Theassembly of claim 3, wherein: (a) said assembly is a vehicle; (b) saidvehicle comprises one or more rigid frame structures to which a majorityof other components of said vehicle are directly or indirectly engagedand from which a majority of other components of said vehicle derivesupport directly or indirectly; (c) said vehicle comprises aframe-suspension system that is engaged to said one or more framestructures and that provides said one or more frame structures withsupport above said ground; (d) said frame-suspension system isconstructed in such a manner to provide said vehicle with a relativelylow resistance to movement along said ground; and (e) said vehiclecomprises one or more body structures that are mounted to and supportedby said one or more frame structures of said vehicle.
 15. The assemblyof claim 14, wherein: (a) one of said body structures of said vehicle isan operator cabin which is also said mounted component; (b) one of saidone or more frame structures of said vehicle is said mounting component;and (c) said novel-suspension system supports said operator cabin fromsaid frame structure in such a manner that said operator cabin can movevertically relative to said frame structure.
 16. The assembly of claim3, wherein: (a) said travel-limiting link comprises a second snubberthat is disposed adjacent whichever of said pivotal connection saidfirst snubber is not adjacent; (b) said second snubber is disposed upona side of said pivotal connection point that it is adjacent oppositesaid spanning portion of said travel-limiting link; (c) said mountingcomponent or said mounted component comprises a second bump-stopstructure that is disposed in such a position that when saidtravel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connection as saidmounted component moves away from said mounting component said secondsnubber moves toward said second bump-stop structure and when saidtravel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connection as saidmounted component moves toward said mounting component said secondsnubber moves away from said second bump-stop structure and; and (d)said first bump-stop structure and said second bump-stop structure arepositioned such that, when said mounted component moves away from saidmounting component to a rebound limit said first snubber contacts saidfirst bump-stop structure and said second snubber contacts said secondbump-stop structure.
 17. The assembly of claim 4, wherein: (a) saidtravel-limiting link comprises a second snubber that is disposedadjacent whichever of said pivotal connection said first snubber is notadjacent; (b) said second snubber is disposed upon a side of saidpivotal connection point that it is adjacent opposite said spanningportion of said travel-limiting link; (c) said mounting component orsaid mounted component comprises a second bump-stop structure that isdisposed in such a position that when said travel-limiting link pivotsabout said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves away fromsaid mounting component said second snubber moves toward said secondbump-stop structure and when said travel-limiting link pivots about saidpivotal connections as said mounted component moves toward said mountingcomponent said second snubber moves away from said second bump-stopstructure; and (d) said first bump-stop structure and said secondbump-stop structure are positioned such that, when said mountedcomponent moves away from said mounting component to a rebound limitsaid first snubber contacts said first bump-stop structure and saidsecond snubber contacts said second bump-stop structure.
 18. Theassembly of claim 5, wherein: (a) said travel-limiting link comprises asecond snubber that is disposed adjacent whichever of said pivotalconnection said first snubber is not adjacent; (b) said second snubberis disposed upon a side of said pivotal connection point that it isadjacent opposite said spanning portion of said travel-limiting link;(c) said mounting component or said mounted component comprises a secondbump-stop structure that is disposed in such a position that when saidtravel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connections as saidmounted component moves away from said mounting component said secondsnubber moves toward said second bump-stop structure and when saidtravel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connections as saidmounted component moves toward said mounting component said secondsnubber moves away from said second bump-stop structure; and (d) saidfirst bump-stop structure and said second bump-stop structure arepositioned such that, when said mounted component moves away from saidmounting component to a rebound limit said first snubber contacts saidfirst bump-stop structure and said second snubber contacts said secondbump-stop structure.